DaBears Ditka

SuperFanDBS Writer

By ARTHUR ARKUSH - aarkush@chicagofootball.com - Friday, May 9, 2014 11:51 a.m. CDT
Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton gestures during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, in Pasadena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
After selecting CB Kyle Fuller No. 14 overall, GM Phil Emery said three of Chicago’s six potential first-round targets were available when the Bears went on the clock. Although we don’t know who they have in mind for this evening, here are six Day Two possibilities for the Bears, armed with the 51st and 82nd overall selections.Arizona State DT Will Sutton: We’ll never know if they would have pounced on new Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, taken one spot ahead of the Bears, but a number of impressive interior defenders could be available at No. 51, including Sutton. Unlike Donald, who would’ve been expected to play an extended number of snaps – creating a potential bottleneck with players like Jeremiah Ratliff and Lamarr Houston – Sutton would only be needed for around 20 snaps per game to begin his career. That would maximize his impact as a disruptive penetrator, which the Bears greatly covet.Notre Dame TE Troy Niklas: Martellus Bennett proved to be a tremendous offseason addition last year, but the NFL is loaded with offenses that deploy a pair of pass-catching tight ends to stress defenses. Unlike Bennett, Niklas can be a field stretcher, in addition to a willing and talented blocker. He possesses a high ceiling and would provide Jay Cutler with one more reliable pass catcher, and the rest of NFL defenses one more challenge when trying to slow Chicago’s ascending offense. Niklas would be intriguing in the second round.Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde: Hyde might have been a first-rounder a few years ago, when running back was still a premium position, but he still figures to be the first one off the board today. One of Chicago’s few weaknesses amid a record-breaking offensive season in 2013 was its inability to line up and jam it down the opponents’ throat in short-yardage situations. That’s Hyde’s area of expertise , but don’t pigeonhole him – Hyde’s a well-balanced, every-down back who could become Chicago’s work horse in a moment’s notice if Matt Forte’s heavy workload leads to injury.Nebraska CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste: Before you say, “what, the Bears just drafted a cornerback – where are the safeties?” consider that Jean-Baptiste is a spitting image of the lengthy cornerbacks with potential futures at safety Emery has researched. At 6-3, 218 pounds, Jean-Baptiste has the strength and size to match up with bigger tight ends and slot receivers, and the ball-hawking skills to fit in perfectly with Chicago’s opportunistic defense. He would be a tremendous value at No. 82, though other clubs might like him in Round Two.Michigan State LB Max Bullough: He isn’t the kind of athlete Emery found last year in Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene, but Bullough is a gritty, smart “Mike” ‘backer with terrific college production and a strong pedigree. Country strong and highly instinctive, Bullough would provide reliable insurance behind unreliable D.J. Williams, who will soon be 32 and has missed a combined 22 games over the past three seasons. After missing the Rose Bowl because of a suspension, Bullough’s stock has slipped, which could work in the Bears’ favor in Round ThreeFlorida State FS Terrence Brooks: Yes, there is a drop-off at this position after the top four safeties all heard their names called Thursday night. Even so, Brooks is an intriguing talent, with impressive awareness and range playing center field. He’ll have to clean up his tackling, but Brooks is the type of intimidator and tough guy the Bears’ safety corps has noticeably lacked for too long. He’s likely to come off the board late Friday evening.

May, 9, 2014
11:25 AM ET
By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com
Don't sleep on Day 2 of the NFL draft. Players chosen in the second and third rounds are expected to be serious contributors from the start. Since Phil Emery took over as general manager in 2012, the Chicago Bears have used second-round picks on Alshon Jeffery and Jonathan Bostic, who between them have already started a combined 29 games (Jeffery 20, Bostic nine).

These are vital selections for the long-term stability and health of a franchise.

My prediction is the Bears will select Minnesota defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman with the No. 51 pick in the draft.

Why Hageman? He is one of the best interior defensive linemen available. Hageman's 6-foot-5, 310-pound frame would help the Bears shore up their run defense, and he would be a nice complement to veterans Jeremiah Ratliff, Stephen Paea and Nate Collins in the club's rotation. Hageman can also rush the passer, and he started 26 games for the Golden Gophers from 2011 to '13. He hasn't been injury-prone. Hageman has experienced multiple off-the-field issues (academic suspension and misdemeanor for disorderly conduct) and reportedly had a difficult childhood. But none of that looks to be terribly alarming. Emery is open to taking players who have supposed character red flags because he believes the organization possesses the necessary amount of stability and leadership.

What if Hageman is gone already? The Bears could turn to another defensive tackle, Florida State's Timmy Jernigan. Early mock drafts linked Jernigan to the Bears at No. 14, but he fell to the second round after he reportedly tested positive for a banned substance at the NFL combine. Jernigan is on the smaller side (6-1, 299 pounds), but he earned All-ACC first-team honors last season after posting career highs with 63 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Jernigan had nine tackles in the BCS National Championship.

What if they're both gone? Maybe the Bears will look to further bolster the offense by adding a dynamic tight end such as Texas Tech's Jace Amaro (6-5, 265 pounds). In 2013, Amaro caught 106 passes for 1,352 yards and seven touchdowns. How would he look alongside Martellus Bennett? Imagine both Bennett and Amaro in the slot in a four-receiver set. Good luck covering that combination when Jeffery and Brandon Marshall are flanked out wide. Amaro would likely represent the best available player in this scenario. He could be too talented to pass on

Here's another saying the Bears will look for a TE if the DT run happens before 51.

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